3.5 Days, 700+ Delegates: How IAPCON 2026 Evolved into a Vibrant Knowledge Hub

3.5 Days, 700+ Delegates: How IAPCON 2026 Evolved into a Vibrant Knowledge Hub

A Note from the Scientific Chair

– Dr Praneeth Suvvari, Hyderabad

Hello everyone.

It has been more than a month since we wrapped up the 33^rd International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCON 2026) in Hyderabad but we are still basking in the joy of completing a successful conference, thanks to the wonderful feedback provided by all of you.

The conception of the Scientific Program started from the beginning of 2025 where IAPCON 2025 in Jammu helped us set a stage not just for networking with the upcoming specialists in palliative care but also for reconnecting with the stalwarts of the field and taking their suggestions. We started with identifying key areas of Palliative care, in accordance with the theme of ‘Continuum of Care across Home, Hospice and Hospital,’ that need more focus scientifically and converted them into 18 scientific tracks.

Gratefully, we had constant support and guidance from the experts of the field who generously agreed to lead the tracks based on their expertise. Palliative care providers from throughout the country also volunteered as coordinators for the tracks ensuring timely conduct of the sessions. With the support of global palliative leaders, we had the privilege of including ASCO joint session and Joint MASCC Track in the program which was an enriching experience for all the delegates who attended. The scientific program also included a CardiPH Game organized by the team from Cardiff University for teachers and trainers which was appreciated by many.

This year we received a large number of submissions for pre-conference workshops out of which we selected 16 workshops based on blind scoring by a three-person review team. The primary focus was on providing a platform for workshops that were novel, innovative and included recent advances in technology and research. We received positive feedback for all the workshops that were conducted across three different venues.

We received a total of 256 abstracts for Poster and Oral Presentations from delegates across the world. Through a rigorous screening process involving blind review by specialists with expertise in research, the abstracts were evaluated and categorized into posters and oral presentations under the categories:  Practicing Doctors, Doctor (Students), Nurses and Others (Social workers, psychologists, volunteers, physiotherapists). I express my sincere gratitude to everyone who helped us in this screening process.

This 3.5-day conference evolved into a vibrant knowledge hub bringing together over 80 national faculty members and 15 renowned international experts contributing to a world-class scientific program attended by more than 700 delegates in Hyderabad.  The program was notably enhanced by the innovative “silent-conference” design, facilitating seamless participation by enabling delegates and faculty to attend parallel sessions of their choice.

We are grateful for all the appreciation that continuous to pour in for the inclusive scientific program, the innovative use of technology, and the seamless conduct of the conference. I take this opportunity to convey my heartfelt gratitude to every delegate, faculty member, volunteer and student for trusting our vision and making IAPCON 2026 a grand success. Sincere thanks to my wonderful team at Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital and Research Institute for their support throughout. As one of the delegates mentioned in their feedback, “This was not just a conference, but the coming together of minds, hearts, and a shared purpose.”

Regards 

Dr Praneeth Suvvari